This doesn’t figure to impact the Reign directly; they’ve got a decent cushion at the top of the Pacific, but here it is. The Kelly Cup, just FYI, is the ECHL’s version of the Stanley Cup (except Mr. Kelly is still alive!)

PRINCETON, N.J. – The ECHL announced that the Board of Governors approved a revision to the Kelly Cup Playoffs format for the National Conference and the South Division in the American Conference at its Mid-Season Meeting in Reading, Pa. on Wednesday.

The Reign cleared their glut of defensemen Friday by trading Ryan Card to Johnstown for future considerations. Card missed the first 33 games of the season with a herniated disc and appeared in just four games with zero points, two penalty minutes and a minus-3 rating. The trade leaves the Reign with seven defensemen heading into tomorrow’s game at Bakersfield.

Just got word from the Reign’s executive vice president of business operations, Justin Kemp, that the ECHL will announce the host city for the 2010 all-star game tomorrow. Kemp has already been informed of the league’s decision; it’s believed to be between (at least) Ontario and Biloxi, Miss., home of the Mississippi Sea Wolves.

Almost as soon as Dusty Collins was cut by the Manchester Monarchs, the Manitoba Moose brought the center back to the American Hockey League, after he was back under contract to the Reign for about a day there.

Though Karl Taylor would have probably loved to have Collins back, it does mean one less roster move the head coach has to make. Jon Rheault, at least for the moment, is expected back this weekend, as is Denny Johnston. Both were cut by Manchester this month. The maxed-out Reign will have to make room on the 18-man active roster for both players, but nothing official today on the transactions wire.

First the good news: Geoff Walker scored a goal and Tim Kraus assisted on another, on a light day of scoring for the National Conference, which took an 11-5 loss in Reading, Pa. in the ECHL All-Star game Wednesday night. Apparently it’s not like this every year; the 11 goals tied an ECHL All-Star game record.

Denny Johnston officially joined the Reign today, almost a week after the Manchester Monarchs released the center from his AHL contract. Johnston told me last weekend that joining the Reign was contingent on passing a physical, since he had broken his wrist in late November while playing in Manchester.

Evidently, he must have passed. In addition to the announcement earlier today that Jon Rheault and Dusty Collins have been released from Manchester, Johnston’s arrival means the Reign have potentially three forwards coming their way from the AHL this week.

Also, the Monarchs grabbed goaltender Jeff Jakaitis from the ECHL Charlotte Checkers to replace Jonathan Bernier, whom the Kings recalled to replace Erik Ersberg a couple days back. That’s good news for Reign fans who wanted to see Jeff Zatkoff, Kellen Briggs and/or John Murray in uniform a while longer.

Unless they are signed by another American Hockey League squad over the next five days, Dusty Collins and Jon Rheault will again be members of the Ontario Reign when the All-Star break is over.

Both were released from their Pro Tryout Agreements with the AHL Manchester Monarchs today. Here’s the full release. Since the Reign are already at the ECHL-maximum 18 active players, they would have to make room for Rheault and Collins by trading or cutting two current players.